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Colorado State reinforces leadership at top of big four programs

Jim McElwain, Tom Hilbert and Ryun Williams have new deals restructured by former AD Jack Graham

By Mike Brohard

Sports Editor

Posted:
08/09/2014 07:33:36 AM MDT

Colorado State football coach Jim McElwain will guide the Rams under the structure of a new contract this year, a deal brokered by former athletic director Jack Graham. Graham, who was fired Friday, hinted at the news in a release he issued. Volleyball coach Tom Hilbert and women's basketball coach Ryun Williams also received new deals. (Steve Stoner / Loveland Reporter-Herald)

FORT COLLINS — Though no longer the athletic director at Colorado State, Jack Graham still had big news to share about his time with the university.

In his release Friday to address his dismissal by CSU President Tony Frank, Graham said he had worked out new contracts for football coach Jim McElwain, volleyball coach Tom Hilbert and women's basketball coach Ryun Williams, deals ensuring an extended stay for each. It was news the university had yet to make public, but Graham did so in detailing ways he felt he had advanced the athletic department.

Saturday after practice, McElwain admitted all of the coaches will be working under new deals beginning this season, and Hilbert said the same thing later in the day. Williams is on vacation with his family and could not be reached.

"That's something I'm really excited about. Karen (his wife) and I, we love this community, we love this university, the leadership with the board and (CSU president) Tony (Frank)," McElwain said. "I've chosen to make this — which I believe Colorado State University is a destination, it's not a stop. I can't tell you how excited I am that they trusted us, our family, our coaches, to take this thing, keep growing it. I'm really excited about the fact that Hilbs, Ryno and Larry Eu (Eustachy) are going to be part of that for a long, long time as well."

McElwain's current deal pays him $1.35 million annually, while Hilbert is at $154,000 and Williams $150,000 , each with incentives included.

While McElwain and Williams are coming off their first winning seasons at CSU — McElwain guided his team to a bowl-game victory and Williams' squad won the Mountain West regular-season championship — Hilbert enters his 18th season at the university with five straight conference championships and 17 consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. McElwain has a two-season record of 12-14, while Williams is at 36-27.

Tom Hilbert ( Special to the Reporter-Herald)

The university still has not officially released news of the new deals or how they are structured, but they are a big step forward for establishing security for the school's most visible programs.

Graham's statement, coming in his second bullet point, read in part: 'This has secured our future of great leadership and coaching and mitigates the "stepping stone" dynamic that has prevailed at CSU.' It suggests each coach has an extended contract that contains a significant buy-out clause keeping them on campus for an extended stay.

It is a point Hilbert, the most successful coach in university history with a career mark of 431-106 record, feels is important for the university to make for the future.

"Without a doubt. We need that," said Hilbert, who had been working under the same contract since 2000, an original three-year deal the two sides had extended in one-year increments. "We need to show and everybody needs to perform well. CSU in my opinion is going in the right direction. There is good vision, and this is a step in keeping that vision alive."

Eustachy, the men's basketball coach, had his contract extended at the end of his first year in 2011-12. Now, the other three will be working under similar contracts.

"I can say this, I think you guys will get tired of doing this with me," McElwain said.

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